The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1887-06-09
Special eorrespondsnce Of The cold Leqt
New YORK, June 3, 1881.

The recent negative answer OF
newspaper editor when asked tbrougl
the columns of his paper whether Mrs
Southwark, the novelist, was still 1iv
ing, recalls the names of several brigh
and talented writers of whose presen
existence the world seems almost oh
1ivious. The announcement of tn
death of Mrs. Ann S. Stephens yea
ago was a surprise to hundreds whC
had long counted her among thos'
that had died many years ago, anc
thus will it be of many other famed
ones WHO enjoyed the highest popular
ity in their time. Thousands who have
read the works of Augusta Evans vii
son think of the talented and popular
author as the occupant Of grave
rather than as the present owner and
inhabitant of a charming Southern
home. The older literary people will
easily recall to memory the brilliant
literary and social triumphs of Eliza
beth Cakes Smith quarter of a cen
fury ago. No woman was more well
come contributor or social guest, yet
the world has long regarded her as
having passed away. A lonely life in
a small Long Island town did much tc
remove her from the public, yet few
women of her ripe years are as strong,
mentally and physically, as is Mrs
Cakes Smith in her CarOlinian home
John G.. SAKE, than whom there was
not brighter writer or wit a score Of
years ago, died month ago at AL
bany almost forgotten by all. Mary
Hewitt makes another addition to a
list that might be made almost inter
minably long, yet few of her sex are
happier or in fuller possession of every
faculty than is Mrs. Hewitt at 81 in
her fower-bowered cottage far away
in Austria. AS if this style of .obscu-
rity applied mostly to litetary women,
the CASE OF Mary C9wqbsan ClaSke t X
Shakespearean writer, may be cited.
Oh, Mrs. Clarke is dead some years,
said a noted author in the writer's
hearing not long since; it is only
few months since an article appeared
speaking of her in the past tense.
Truly may Mrs. Clarke be said to have
passed from out of the public eye, but
dead she certainly is not, if most de-
lightful letter which l received from
her only last week is any indication of
her existence in the land of the living.
DR.. Lyman Abbott's life of Henry
Ward Beecher is edited with great tact
and skill, and in a manner which
should insure for it an immediate pop-
ularity. Just now, when the person
ality of Mr.. Beecher is still distinctly
felt, and while grief for his death is vet
poignant, it is necessarily for anecdotes
of him, for facts and incidents of his
daily life, for something indeed that
shall still seem to be warm with his
human touch, that people care most to
have given to them. An exhaustive or
elaborate treatise on his life would
seem just now somewhat out of place.
We are not as yet far enough away
rom our own vivid emotions. The
critical estimates of him which do ap-
pear in this volume are short and !
'ketchy in their character, and are
largely mingled with personal impress
'lons. They are for this reason all
The more adapted to the needs and
wishes of their readers, who like eager
have been waiting to scan
my and everything across which the
mantle OF their prophet has brushed.
DR.. Abbott very wisely divides the life
proper up into series of sketches de-
'otlng separate studies to Mr.. Beecher
IS preacher, a journalist, a lecturer.
'tc., and going in each case back to
Incidents in his early youth. In this
way certain familiar and easy tone
S preserved and one that brings the
treat preacher all the more wildly be-
ore us. Rev. S. B. Halliday contrib
ties series of pesonal anecdotes, and
Dr.. Abbott adds carefully edited
objection of characteristic Utter
nces," theological, spiritual, political,
tic. 1t is of more than ordinary in
crest to note that in his early youth
dr. Beecher, owing partly to embar-
assment and partly to an enlargement
It the tonsils of the throat, spoke so
ndlstlnctly that only with great diff
uity was he understood. "When
henry IS sent to me with a message" :
and good aunt, 81 always have to 1
make him say it three times. The |
rSt time have no manner of an idea :
nore than if he spoke Choctaw; the
econd, | catch now and then word ,
y the third time l begin to under {
and" ,
None but the young feel that thew |
re competent to grasp the whole of $
ie. Robert Browning alone con- v
flutes very serious problem for those c
eople who try to understand what is d
Ding on in the literary world. Miss +
leloise f. Hersey has come to the re- {
ct OF readers by issuing with D. Lo- 7
lroP 4 90. an edition of "Religious \
oems by Robert Browning" to which
:. J. Rolfe has prehxed a few words D
approval. The reprinted poems are Il
Christmas Eve - uEae,ar Ms,